Engine



' 1,601,995 W. A. BUTLER ET AL ENGINE Filed July 11, 1922 2 Sheets$heet l 2 v I v g I .24

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W.A. BUTLER ET AL ENGINE Filed July 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ure 1.

Patented Oct. 5, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BUTLEB AND GEORGE 1?. KING,

OF AGATE, COLORADO.

, ENGINE.

Application filed This invention" relates to an internal combustion engine, one of the objects of the invention being to provide means whereby the heat generated by the combustion of the fuel during the operation of the engine is utilized for converting into steam a portion of the water contained in the water jacket, this steam being utilized to facilitate the operation of the piston during the compres sion and exhaust strokes thereof.

Another object is to provide means whereby the steam after being used in the cylinder will be exhausted into a supply tank where it will preheat the water prior to its admission to the water jacket and subse uent conversion into steam.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. x In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a section through an engine having the present improvements combined therewith.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figthe figures by characters of reference 1 desi ates the cylinder of an internal combustion engine provided with a water jacket 2, this cylinder being closed at one end by a head 3 in which reciprocates the rod 4 of the piston 5. The other end of the cylinder is closed by a hollow head 6 on which is provided a steam dome 7. The cylinder 1 has the usual inlet 8 for fue gases, this inlet having a valve 9 operated by suitable mechanism indicated generally at 10 so as to be opened in properly timed relation to the operation of the piston 5, the said mechanism 10 receiving its motion from the shaft 11 of the engine. This shaft is mounted within a crank case 12 and the crank 13 thereof is connected by a pitman 14 to the rod 4. The crank case 12 has an annular tank 15 mounted thereon and which is secured to one end of the cylinder 1. This tank has a vent 15' in the top thereof through which steam can escape to the outer Referring to July-11, 1922. Serial No. 574,154.

atmosphere. An outlet pipe 16 extends from the tank to the lower portion of the water jacket 2 and for the purpose of forcing water through this pipe to the jacket a pump indicated generally at 17 is provided, this pumpbeing driven by any suitable mechanism such as a belt 18 and pulleys 19 operated by the shaft 11.

The cylinder 1 also has an exhaust port 20 opening into a cage 21 formed in the head 6, this port being normally closed by a valve 22 operated by suitable mechanism indicated generally at 23 and which receives motion from the shaft 11 so as to operate in properly timed relation to the piston 5. The cage 21 constitutes a manifold from which extend a number of pipes or flues 24. These flues are extended within the hollow head 6 and thence downwardly within the water jacket 2, sai flues discharging into the external atmosphere through as shown particularly in Figure 2 Extending from the steam dome 7 is a steam pipe 25 opening into a steam port 2 located in the lower portion of the cylinder 1, there being a governor valve 27 for controlling the flow of steam through the pipe 25, this valve being connected to the shaft 11 by any suitable means such as pulley and belt mechanism 28. A slide valve 29 or the like is employed for controlling the admission of steam to. he port 26, this valve being operated by a cam 30 on shaft 11.

An exhaust port 31 is provided in the cylinder 1 between its ends and an exhaust pipe 32 extends from this port into the tank 15. Another exhaust port 33 is formed in the cylinder adjacent the inner end thereof and has a pipe 34 in communication therewit and extending into the tank 15. A valve 35 controls the flow of steam through the' port 33 and is operated by a cam 36 on sha lhe engine is adapted to operate in the usual manner by the ignition of explosive fuel, the fuel being admitted to the cylinder through port 8 at the proper time, ignited at the spark plug 37, and the spent gases subsequently expelled through the port 20. The hot exhaust gases will be forced through the flues 24 and will quickly raise the temthat perature of the water in the jacket 2 so steam will be generated and will be collected in the dome 7. The parts are so timed that during the compression stroke of the piston 5 port 26 will be opened and steam will be the end of the water jacket I admitted back of the piston so as to facilitate the compression stroke thereof. As the piston reaches the limit of said stroke the exhaust port 31 is uncovered thereby, this action taking place immediately following the closing of the port 26. The steam under pressure is thus exhausted downwardly through the pipe 32 into tank 15 where it will preheat the water in the tank and as the piston returns toward the port 26 the steam trapped in the path thereof will be expelled through the port 33 which will be opened automatically during this movement of the piston. Thus the steam ejected in this manner will be expelled into the water in tank 15 and used for preheating purposes. The

action above described also takes place dur' ing and following each exhaust stroke of thepiston. Pump 17 is adapted to operate only when it is desired to lift water to displace that expended by the use of the steam. The operation of the pump can be controlled by any suitable means. As the steam is con densed in the tank 15 very little waste of water will take place.

What is claimed is In an internal combustion engine the combination with a water jacketed cylinder including a head, said cylinder having a fuel menses intake port and an exhaust port, of a centrally disposed cage in the head and communicating with the exhaust port, tubes radiating from the cage and extending within the water jacket to heat the contents thereof with exhausted gases, a steam dome communicating with the water jacket, steam inlet and exhaust ports opening into one end portion of the cylinder, a piston mounted for reciprocation, separate means operated by the piston for opening and closing the fuel inlet and exhaust ports in properly timed relation, a valved connection between the steam dome and the steam inlet port, means operated by the piston for opening and closing the steam inlet and exhaust ports in properly timed relation to facilitate the movement of the piston during its compression and exhaust stroke, a water tank having a steam vent, means controlled by the operation of the piston for elevating water from said tank to the water ing exhaust steam from the exhaust ports of the cylinder to the tank.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto afixed our signatures.

' WILLIAM A. BUTLER.

GEORGE F. KING.

jacket, and means for conduct- 

